Master's Degree Abroad

The most decisive decision to apply for a master's degree is not the country, but the country’s application system. Central systems work with strict calendars; there is a history of each program in direct application areas. This page explains the difference.

Last update: 1111 September 2026Prepared by: InterAX Editor TeamThe figures and dates on this page have been verified against the sources listed below.

Decision sequence

The most frequent error in the Master’s Degree planning is the launch of the process with the choice of the country. More hits:

Area and target. What you want to do after graduation determines the program type.
Transcript analysis. What programs do your undergraduate curriculum meet?
Language status. What programs do the document in your hands open, which is necessary for the test calendar?
Budget. Education fee + administrative contribution + life expenses + material qualification requirement.
List of countries and programs. The list is spontaneously narrowed when the above four headers are cleared.

Application list should not occur from one program. Since contenjan thresholds vary from year to year, a list with programs from different selective levels is safer.

Application systems

Countries are divided into three groups according to how they get the application. It determines how flexible your distinction calendar will be.

System type	Sample	Calendar	Conclusion
Central national system	Netherlands (Studielink), Denmark (optagelse.dk)	National level fixed dates	The missed date remains to the next period
Common preliminary assessment	Germany (uni-assist)	Program dates are added different, evaluation time	Additional time required for document process
Direct university	Italy, UK (Master’s Degree), USA	Her college’s own calendar	You must follow on the program basis

uni-assist in Germany, evaluation after online application received 4–6 weeks It states that it can drive and contact from the last date 8 weeks ago recommends. In Italy, the academic application is completed as a separate step of the Universitaly front record.

General planning calendar

12–14 months agoField and program researchTranscript analysis, lesson match control, first long list.
10–12 months agoLanguage test planThe test and result duration are calculated back from the deadlines.
6–8 months agoDocument preparationDiploma, transcript, translation and approvals; letter and testimonials.
4–6 months agoApplicationThe correct selection of the channel is critical at this stage.
After acceptanceMaddi qualification and visaBlock account / material source document and consolidation appointment.

How to compare the cost

Cost comparison between countries is misleading only when it is done through the tuition fee. The correct comparison handles four pencils together:

Education fee. Most of the state universities in Germany are not received; students from the state of Baden-Württemberg pay € 1.500 per term. The tuition fees in Italy is stepped according to the financial situation.
Administrative contribution. Every period is paid even in non-learning countries.
Life goes. The largest pen for most students. The country should not be calculated at the city level.
Maddi qualification requirement. The amount to be shown for the Visa: 11904 € per year in Germany, 10.179,85 € (2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years in Italy).

The amount of maddi qualification is not a spending pen, in the visa stage show the amount required. This distinction should not be mixed in the budget planning.

Country guides

CountryMaster’s Degree in Germanyuni-assist, ECTS match, last dates and blocked account.CountryMasters in ItalyPre-registration of Universitaly, duties and visas connected to ISEE.GeneralAll CountriesOn destination application systems and calendars.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many years of license abroad takes?

varies according to country. The Master’s license in Europe is typically two years and 120 ECTS. An intensive annual programs in England and Ireland are common. The time should be taken into account in the country comparison, as the total cost directly affects.

Which country’s Master’s Degree is cheaper?

There is no single answer, because the cost consists of three pens: tuition fee, administrative contribution and life expenses. Most of the state universities in Germany do not have a tuition fee but vary significantly according to the city of life expenses. The tuition fees in Italy is stepped according to the financial situation. Comparison should not be the country, program and city level.

Can I do a master's degree in a different area from my bachelor’s degree area?

Some programs are open to domain change, some are not. Concentric programs in Europe are looking to cover with the bachelor’s degree curriculum; there are separate program categories for those who want to change the area. Therefore, the decision should be given by examining the lesson in the transcript.

Sources

Make it in Germany (Germany Federal Government) — — Student visa, financial assurance amount and work right
uni-assist e.V. — — Application deadlines and evaluation time
Baden-Württemberg Science, Research and Art Department — — Study fee for non-EU students
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministero degli Affari Esteri) — — Student visa, financial qualification amount and right to work
Universityaly (Italy University and Research portal) — — Pre-registration for students from abroad (preiscrizione)